Reply With QuoteObviously.
(PS: I knew someone was gonna say that.)
Just enjoy the beauties (and I'm sure you did know what I meant, AN) that discerning WNYers would immediately recognise as such (and summarily dismiss the dross)
.
To be clear, the modern building on the right hand side of the pic with the exposed floorplates and AC vents is NOT a beauty.
Obviously
(PS: I knew someone was gonna say that.)
Just enjoy the beauties (and I'm sure you did know what I meant, AN
Fixed...(if only it were that easy in real life), be still my heart!
^ Thanks, SM
Your next mission, should you choose to accept it, is... http://wirednewyork.com/forum/showth...t=21863&page=2
Art Deco awesomeness. One would hope they're not allowed to touch the exterior at all.
Deborah Berke Designing 700 Residences in Lower Manhattan Art-Deco Skyscraper
by Branden Klayko
Looking up at 70 Pine. (12th St David / Flickr)
Move over Woolworth Building. Another iconic Lower Manhattan skyscraper is slated for a residential conversion, this time by Deborah Berke Partners and architects of record Steven B. Jacobs Group. The 66-story art deco landmark at 70 Pine Street was built in 1932 as the Cities Service Company, and more recently served as the headquarters of American International Group (AIG), and now developer Rose Associates plans to transform the tower into 700 luxury apartments above a 300-room hotel.
Art-Deco detailing on the exterior of 70 Pine. (Sandra Cohen-Rose and Colin Rose/Flickr)
Standing at 952 feet tall, 70 Pine was originally the 3rd tallest building in the world, behind the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building, and is still one of the tallest in the city. Stylized art deco detailing in stone and aluminum covers the building’s exterior and lobby, with a miniature stone model of the structure standing between the building’s main entrances (see below). Stephen B. Jacobs, principal of the Stephen B. Jacobs Group, said all significant historical elements of the structure will remain intact in line with NYC Landmarks laws and guidelines for historic tax credits.
Individual residences, however, will begin with a clean slate and feature modern design. “The residences will be modern in a way that’s inspired by what’s already there,” said Christopher Yost, Associate Architect at Deborah Berke Partners. “They’re designed to be compatible with the existing building.”
Interior demolition has already begun on site, but Jacobs noted that final plans including the official number of units could change in the future and that a design team for the hotel below the residences has not been finalized. He said four to six apartments are planned per floor in the tower with more units filling floors on the tower’s base. The building’s pointed spire, featuring an observation deck and glowing lantern at its pinnacle, will be part of the residential program, but it hasn’t been decided whether it will serve as a penthouse or communal space. Construction is expected to take around 18 months, meaning 70 Pine should open sometime in summer 2014.
70 Pine’s main entrance and lobby. (Courtesy Deborah Berke)
70 Pine still stands as the 6th tallest tower in New York. (Courtesy Wikipedia)
Art-Deco detailing on 70 Pine’s exterior. (Victoria Pickering/Flickr)
A stone carving at the building’s main entrance depicts a miniature 70 Pine. (Courtesy Wikipedia)
Art-Deco detailing on the exterior of 70 Pine. (Victoria Pickering/Flickr)
The iconic spire of 70 Pine glowing in the evening. (Sarmale/Flickr)
Art-Deco detailing at a side entrance to 70 Pine. (12th St David / Flickr)
70 Pine’s stepped spire. (edenpictures/Flickr)
http://blog.archpaper.com/wordpress/...8A%2FN+Blog%29
Beautiful!
YES, this landmark-worthy facade will remain intact: only the interiors will be modified. They are practically doing a entire gut/renovation with major new electrical/plumbing/elevator work. This sort of adaptive reuse 'development' is great because you get the best of both worlds; exquisite exterior architectural design, and updated interiors. The same type of new (interior alteration) work that I can think of that is similar is the '1212 5th Avenue project. http://www.1212fifthavenue.com/building
Please get these lights back on. The Downtown skyline is so dark without them.
So within the next three years three of the city's most cherished towers will be converted.
Metropolitan Life to a hotel
Woolworth Building will be partially residential
AIG Building will be all residential
The Flatiron Building was reported to be transformed into a hotel but haven't heard news on that in a while.
The best !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I dont know why it hasnt been lit up in the past few months. Hopefully this gets rectified.
Nonetheless, this is one of the standard setting towers of NYC and its storied majestic skyline; and despite the modernist onslaught of the 60's butch-boxes dumped all around it she still gracefully peers over our great metropolis.
This is great news I'd love to live in this building.
If more people in the 'general public' had that kind of response to Great Architecture we would not being witnessing the proliferation of so many bland, boring, run-of-the-mill buildings being constructed all over town: it now seems as if 'most' people do not either recognize or value 'fine design' in their build environment.Originally Posted by bigchet
Architecture is a bit like politics: 'the people' often end up with exactly the politicians that they 'deserve'.
Well, at least your doing 'your' part to keep 'good design' in mind.......
I have always loved this one. Very under-appreciated.
Presumably, the marvelous former observation deck wasn't landmarked, too?
It would be great if future residents had access to it and could bring visitors
A reminder from brucebelltours on WNY:
The now abandoned observation deck of the American International Building
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